Railway-signal.



NATN'NTBD JAN. 29, 1907.

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INVENTOR wNNEssEs; l W A JL.; l ATTORNEY nu.' Hemus PETERS co.wAsHmcfGN. t:4 f:A

c. w. COLEMAN". RAILWAY'SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MARA, 1904'. z SHEETS-SHEET a.

Il y` fimn - il' il WITNESSES:

TITTEE STATES PATENT FFTE.

CLARENCE W. COLEMAN, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HALLSIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

RAILWAY-SEGNL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1907.

Original application led April 4, 1902, Serial No. 101,327. Divided andthis application filed March 1,1904. Serial 110.196.088.

To 1f/ZZ whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. COLE- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of VVestfleld, in the county of Union and Stateof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signal apparatus, especially such as isadapted for use on railways.

The invention seeks to provide means interposed between the motor andthe signal for increasing the efliciency or effectiveness of the motor.These means preferably consist of a connection-such as a system oflevers-which operates to increase the mechanical leverage. Thisconnection may be applied in a variety of ways and may be embodied invarious forms. It may be employed in connection with a motor whose powerremains constant or diminishes or increases. In either case theconnection intermediate the signal and motor will operate to increasethe efliciency or effectiveness of the motor. Moreover, the load of thesignal may remain constant or it may increase or decrease.

This application is a division of a former application, filed by thisapplicant April 4, 19025614211 No. 101,327.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in one of itsvarious embodiments, the motor being operated by liquefied gas.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a home and distant signal'app aratuspartly in section and parts omitted, the signals being at danger. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 looking from rightto left and partly in section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of home anddistant signals, the motors being omitted.

Referring now more specifically to the particular embodiments of theinvention shown in the drawings, 1 is the signal-post, on which ispivoted the home signal 2 and distant sig nal 3.

2a is the usual weighted spectacle of the signal 2, and 4 is thesignal-rod for signal 2. The signal 3 has a similar weighted spectacleand signal-rod. Instead of employing these spectacles forcounterweighting the signal other counterweighting devices may beemployed.

1 opens.

5 is a tank containing liquefied gas connected by pipe 6 with automaticreducingvalve 7, which is connected by a pipe S'with valve-casing 9,which contains the supply and exhaust valves 10 and 11 and also thecut-off valve 12. The valve-chamber 9 is connected with a piston-chamber13, in which works the piston 14 and piston-rod 15.

16 is a block fixed on piston-rod 15 and having an arm 17, which Worksup and down against lever 18, which lever has an offset 19 and -isarranged to be engaged by a pivoted catch 20, carrying an arm 21.

The supply and exhaust valves are carried on a stem 22, operated by anarmature 23 of magnet 24.

25 is an arm having an armature coperating with magnet 24 and carried onthe rockshaft 26, on which is secured the catch 27, designed to engagethe pivoted spring-dog 28, carried on`the block 16.

29 is a circuit-closer controlled by the lever 30, which is operated bythe rod 31. This rod carries a stop 32. When piston-rod 15 has almostcompleted its upward movement to put the signal to safety, block 16strikes stop 32, thereby lifting rod 31 and closing circuit-closer 29.This circuit-closer controls the operation of the distant signal 3.

33 is the piston-chamber for the distant signal 3, supplied with gasfrom pipe 8 and provided with devices similar to those described withreference to the home signal, except that the valves are differentlyarranged and the arm, such as 21, is omitted.

In the valve-chamber 42, 43 and 46 are exhaust-valves.

44 is the cnt-off valve arranged on the same stem with valve 43.

45 is the inlet-valve on the same stem with valve 46.

Valves 43 and 44 work together, the one opening when the other closes.Valves 44 and 46 are normally open and valves 43 and 45 are normallyclosed. When the signal goes to Isafety, valve 44 closes and valve 43When signal 2 is released from safety, exhaust-valve 46 is opened topermit the air in piston-chamber 33 to escape.

The magnets, such as 24, are designed to be operated in the usualmanner, preferably by means of track-circuits. In the present embodimentof the invention the signals are arranged to stand normally at danger,

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although, of course, they may be arranged to stand normally at safetyWhen magnet 24 is energized, the exhaust-valve 11 is closed and thesupply-valve 10 is opened, admitting gas to the piston-chamber 13,whereupon the piston rises to put the signal to safety After the pistonhas maee a predetermined movement and before the signal has reachedsafety arm 17 strikes arm 21, lifting latch 2O from engagement withlever 19, whereupon this lever moves to the left to close the cut-offvalve 12. rIhre gas within the cylinder 13 continues to eX- pand andcontinues the upward movement of the piston until dog 28 engages catch27. Vhen magnet 24 was energized, arm 25 was held against the magnet, sothat when the signal reaches safety it is held against return movementby the catch 27. Vhen the magnet 24 is denergized, arm 25 is releasedand exhaust-valve 11 is opened, so that the signal returns to dangerposition.

It will be seen that the catch 27, with associated devices, constitutesa retaining device which prevents return movement of the signal or whichpositively holds the signal at safety f The piston-cylinders 13 and 33are mounted on the frame 34.

35 is a link pivotally connected at one end to the piston-rod 15 and atits other end to a lever 36, whose free end carries a roller 37 andwhose opposite end is pivoted at 3S to the frame 34.

39 .is a yoke bolted to the frame 34.

40 is a lever having one end pivoted at 41 to the yoke 39 and its otherend pivotally connected to the signal-rod 41.

When the signal 2 is at dangen the levers 36 and 40 occupy the positionas shown in Fig. 1` these levers being at this time in substantially ahorizontal position with the roller 37 contacting with the under side oflever 40 near its middle. As the piston rises to put the signal tottsafety the lever 36 is inclined upward., lifting the lever 40 to aninclined position, as shown in Fig. 3. In this movement the roller 37,which bears against lever 40, moves gradually outward from the. pivotedend of lever 40, so that the leverage of the piston on the signalincreases as the movement of the signal to safety proceeds. It will alsobe seen that this leverage will increase at a predeterminedpart of theupward stroke of the piston --namely, throughout the latter part of theupward stroke. The leverage changes very little until a predeterminedpart of the stroke is reached, and then changes quite rapidly. In thelever system illustrated a slight upwardL movement of the piston may beeffected without changing the leverage appreciably, but a continuedupward movement increases the leverage quite rapidly. The system shownis unlike a toggle combination working between its eX- treme positions',in which the leverage varies from zero to infinity. On the contrary, inmy system illustrated the leverage varies from a predetermined ratio toinfinity.

Where a Huid-pressure employed to operate the signal is capable of(loing work by its own expansion within the piston-chamber, it isfeasible to cut off the supply of fluid-pressure before the signal hascompleted its movement to safety, relying upon the eXpansive power ofthe gas to complete its movement. This is the arrangement shown withreference to the home signal 2. In such case a cevice consisting oflevers 36 and 40 will have an especial utility because it increases theleverage of the piston on the signal. These levers 36 and 40 constitutea cevice for increasing the efficiency or eifectiveness of the motor.

The distant signal 3 is provided with a connection similar to that justdescribed intermeeiate the signal and the motor. It will not benecessary to specifically describe the motor andL other devicesassociated with the distant signal 3, except to say that the cutoifvalve for the distant signal is not closed until the signal has aboutcompleted its movement, so that the expansive power is not relied uponto complete the movement of the signal. In an ordinary semaphore-signalthe load on the motor in shifting the signal to safety positionincreases materially as the blade nears the vertical position, so thatthe device for increasing the leverage on the signal at this timeaccomplishes an important result. It thus enables a motor operated withconstant power to operate with an increased efliciency to correspond tothe increased load when the signal nears vertical position.

The motor or prime mover for the signal may be electrical, mechanical,fluid-pressure, or other character.

1. The combination with a pivoted semaphore-signal comprising aspectacle and a blade, of a prime mover, and connections intermediatethe prime mover and the semaphore-signal for increasing the efficiencyof the prime mover in its movement of the semaphore-signal on its pivot.

A2. The combination with a pivoted semaphore-signal comprising` aspectacle and a blade unsymmetrical in their relative arrangement, of aprime mover, and connections intermediate the prime mover and the sema]3liore-signal for increasing the leverage or power of 'the primo moverwith the increase in load of the spectacle.

3. The combination with a pivoted semaphore-signal comprising aspectacle and a lade unsyminetrical in their relative arrangement, of aprime mover operable with a minimum constant power, and connectionsintermediate the prime mover and the sema- IOO IOS

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phore-signal for increasing the leverage or power of the prime moverwith the increase in load of the spectacle.

4. The combinationwith a pivoted semaphore-signal comprising a spectacleand a lade, of a prime mover, and a jointed con nection intermediate theprime mover and the semaphore-signal for increasing the leverage orpower of the prime mover with the increase in load of the spectacle.

5. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a motor; and aconnection intermediate the signal and the motor for increasing theefliciency or effectiveness of the motor.

6. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a motor formoving the signal, the load of the signal on the motor increasing` asthe signal changes position; and means between the motor and signal forincreasing the efficiency or effectiveness of the motor.

7. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a motor; and ajointed connection intermediate the signal and motor for increasing theefficiency or effectiveness of the motor.

8. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a4 signal; a fluid-pressuremotor; and a connection intermediate the signal and motor for increasingthe efficiency or effectiveness of the motor.

9. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a fluid-pressuremotor for moving the signal, the load of the signal on the motorincreasing as ythe signal changes position; and means between the motorand signal for increasing the efhciency or effectiveness of the motor.

10. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a motor; and asystem of levers intermediate the signal and motor for increasing theefficiency or effectiveness of the motor.

11. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a motoroperating by means of an expansible fiuid; means for cutting off thesupply of Huid-pressure to the motor before the signal has completed itsmovement from one position to another, whereby the expansive power ofthe fluid in the motor may be utilized to complete the movement of thesignal; and a connection intermediate the signal and motor forincreasing the efficiency or effectiveness ofthe motor.

12. In a Huid-pressure signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; asupply source for an expansible fluid; a iiuid-pressure-applying-chamberin operative connection with said supply and in controllable communica-,tion with said su ply source; means for cutting off the supp y of saidfluid to the ressure-applying chamber before the signa has completed itsmovement from one position to another, whereby the expansive power ofthefluid in said chamber may be utilized to complete the movement of thesignal; and a device for increasing mechanical leverage interposed inthe connection between the signal and the pressure-applying chamber.

13. In a gas-pressure signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; atank for liquefied gas; a gas-pressure-applying chamber in operativeconnection 'with said signal and in communication 'with said tank,'whereby gas may be supplied from said tank to saidgaspressur'e-applying chamber to move the signal to another position ofindication; supply and exhaust valves for said chamber; means forcutting off the supply of gas to said chamber before the signal hascompleted its movement under gas-pressure, whereby the expansive powerof the gas in said chamber may be utilized to complete the movement ofthe signal; and a device for increasing mechanical leverage interposedin the connection between the signal and the pressure-applying chamber.

14. In a gasressure signal apparatus, the combination o a signal; a tankfor liquefied gas; a gas-pressure-applying chamber in operativeconnection with said signal and in communication with said tank, wherebygas may be supplied from said tank to said gaspressure-applying chamberto move the signal to another position of indication; supply and exhaustvalves for said chamber; means for cutting off the supply of gas to saidchamber before the signal has completed its movement under gas-pressure,whereby the expansive power of the gas in said chamber may be utilizedto complete the movement of the signal; a device for increasingmechanical leverage in the connection between the gas pressure applyingchamber and the signal; a retaining device to prevent return movement ofthe signal; and electric means for operating said supply and exhaustvalves and said retaining device.

15. In a gas-pressure signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; atank for liquefied gas; a gas-pressure-applying chamber in operativeconnection with said signal and in communication with said tank, wherebygas may be supplied from said tank to said gaspressure-applying chamberto move the signal to another position of indication; supply and exhaustvalves for said chamber; means for cutting off the supply of gas to saidchamber before the signal has completed its movement under gas-pressure;means in the connection between the gaspressure-applying chamber and thesignal for gradually increasing mechanical leverage to compensate forthe decrease in pressure of working gases during expansion, vwhereby theexpansive power of the gas in said chamber may be utilized to completethe movement of the signal.

16. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a signal; a prime mover;and levers IOO IIO

36 and 40 in the connection between the prime mover and the signal forincreasing mechanical leverage.

17. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a movable signal 5 agas-motor for moving said signal; and means intermediate said signal andsaid gas-motor for increasing the mechanical leverage of said motor.

18. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a movable signal a motorfor moving said signal; an independent source of stored power for saidmotor; and means intermediate said signal and said motor for increasingthe mechanical leverage of said motor.

19. In a signal apparatus7 the combination of a movable signal; a motorfor moving said signal g an adjacent independent source of stored powerfor said motor; and means intermediate said signal and said motor forincreasing the mechanical leverage of said motor.

20. In a signal apparatus, the combination of a movable signal; agas-motor for moving said signal; an independent tank of compressed gasfor operating said gas-motor and means intermediate said signal and saidgas-motor for increasing the mechanical leverage of said motor Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

NICHOLAS M. GroODLnTT7 Jr., E. G. VVHITAKER.

